ANY development of the old Turner's site could be an environmental disaster, a councillor has claimed.

ANY development of the old Turner's site could be an environmental disaster, a councillor has claimed.

In fact, he says there could be so much asbestos waste in the ground that serious disturbance could lead to 'Rochdale's Chernobyl.'

Councillor Tom Stott, a former employee at Turner's, said: "Asbestos was brought to the site for over 100 years and processed. Turner's was a huge manufacturing complex. Is it any wonder the people in the area are battling against the proposed development.

"The Health and Safety Executive should be brought in to check the site for contamination."

He was also concerned that the council's contaminated land officer could be leaving and might not be replaced because of the council's budget problems.

He asked: "What effect could this have on analysing any proposed development?"

He was also fearful that MMC, the developers, would be allowed by the council to carry out their own contamination survey.

That survey could then be used to determine whether the site was fit for development.

Alan Whale, from Rochdale Council's planning department, refused to comment on whether the contamination officer was leaving and said the council was yet to receive a planning application.

He added: "Any developers would have to provide a full environmental assessment of the site as part of their planning application. The council wouldn't be doing any surveys of its own because it doesn't have the expertise or the resources to do this.

"We realise this is a very sensitive area and when we receive a planning application we will make sure we have enough people and resources to deal with it. If all our questions are not answered in the report we will require more information."

Meanwhile, campaigners battling to stop houses being built on the site off Rooley Moor Road believe they have made a shocking discovery.

The Save Spodden Valley Group have found an old map, from the Rochdale Observer in 1871, which appears to show old colliery mineshafts.

Jason Addy, one of the campaigners, said: "We're worried there could be asbestos waste dumped down the mineshafts, which would be disturbed if the land was developed.

"We're not NIMBYs complaining about development in our area, but we are very concerned about what asbestos there could have been dumped on that site.

"We just want enough accurate information to be made available in order for a safe decision to be made on plans to develop this land."

Turner's was once the largest asbestos factory in the world, employing thousands of workers.